Euro 2008 LiveBlog :: Austria - Croatia(06/08/2008) 
10:53
It's our first try for this liveblogging action since the olden times of Das FanHaus, so please excuse any wrinkles.  
Sunday June 8, 2008 10:53 
10:55
and eureka.   behold the power of the interwebs.   it all appears to be in working order.
Sunday June 8, 2008 10:55 
10:57
As the national anthems are played and sung in full voice, please rise and enjoy the starting lineups

Austria                                                                                               Croatia

[ 3-2-3-2 ]  [ 4-4-2 ]

 Jürgen Macho  Stipe Pletikosa
 Sebastian Prödl  Vedran Corluka
 Martin Stranzl  Robert Kovac
 Emanuel Pogatetz  Josip Simunic
 Rene Aufhauser  Danijel Pranjic
 Jürgen Säumel  Darijo Srna
 Joachim Standfest  Niko Kovac
 Andreas Ivanschitz  Luka Modric
 Ronald Gercaliu  Niko Kranjcar
 Martin Harnik  Ivica Olic
 Roland Linz  Mladen Petric

Sunday June 8, 2008 10:57 
10:58
Players to watch out for are Tottenham Hotspurs latest transfer signing, Luka Modric of Croatia.   He's our favorite for top scorer because we're different like that.   On the Austria side, Jurgen Macho is an awesome name.   Just putting that out there.
Sunday June 8, 2008 10:58 
11:00
Even without knowing too much about Austria, we have to give the midfield advantage to Croatia.   Kranjcar, Modric, Kovac, and Srna are bad news.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:00 
11:01
As we kickoff, we'd like to thank ESPN Classic from delaying their coverage of tape delayed car auctions to bring us EURO 2008
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:01 
11:02
Croatia in blue, playing from right to left on your radio dial, Austira in red.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:02 
11:03
1st minute, and Croatia is on the attack.   They set up the play nicely off a free kick and get a number of men in the box, but the cross goes wanting.   They earn a corner kick but are able to do little with it.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:03 
11:04
OH MY.   barely 3 minutes in and Croatia is on the attack once again.   Olic plays the ball deep into the box and performs a mighty flop at the end line.   An interesting PK.  

Luka Modric lines up and knocks it home.   1-0 Croatia in the 4th.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:04 
11:05
Tommy Smyth is not pleased by the PK.   On further replay, Olic looks to bounce off of his defender who has a legitimate challenge on the ball.  
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:05 
11:07
Austira has their work cut out for them.   Playing the ball deep into the area, they manage to get a throw in in the attack third, but Standfast can't connect with his strikers.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:07 
11:09
Another good buildup by the Austrians results in a 25 yard strike the lands right in the keepers clutches.   Croatia gets another good chance on the counter, and we have to think today is going exactly as planned.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:09 
11:10
We're just going to type random consonants as we try to keep track of everyone.   Typos be damned.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:10 
11:14
Like we tried to say earlier, we think the Chat software senses our hangover.   Apologies for the dropped connections.

While we were out, another deadly strike from Croatia.   A deep free kick barely misses linking up with Olic for a second goal.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:14 
11:15
We remind everyone that no good livechat exists in a vaccum.   Be sure to rock the comments.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:15 
11:17
Croatia is having their way with the host country this afternoon.   The first 15 have been almost all Checkerboards.   Their second corner comes dangerously close to being headed home.   The Austrian defense is being completely bumfuzzled, especially Prodl on the right wing.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:17 
11:18
Hallelujah, ESPN will not be cutting away to 1999's World's Strongest Man, sponsored by MetRx, between games.   While its still ESPN, the more studio soccer, the better.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:18 
11:20
A DEEP strike from Austria tails just wide.   The 40+ yarder would have easily been up for goal of the tournament and would redeem Proedl's sloppy play up to this point.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:20 
11:23
Yet another free kick for Croatia, but it goes off the wall, Jurgen MACHO has to come out and punch the rebound shot.   In the scrum, Krancjar takes a nasty fall.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:23 
11:23
Jurgen Macho is 8 feet tall and has an Austrian posse.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:23 
11:24
Possession stats through 23.   Croatia 61% - Austria 39%.   A slow roller through traffic is easily stopped by the Croatian keeper.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:24 
11:26
Not a whole lot of interest in the bar for this match.   We've yet to see one Austrian fan amongst the handful of checkerboard masses (which coincidentally remind us of watching the awesome England-Croatia qualifier at the pub).

A fair number of Polish fans have already shown up, and we can't help but feel like we're in the eye of a hurricane.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:26 
11:28
Austria back on offense, building up to deep free kick to the right of the box.   Proedl gets his head onto the cross and misses the equalizer by THIS much.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:28 
11:30
Down goes Olic.   The Croatian forward is writhing on the ground, clutching his nose from a rough collision with Pogadetz, and Croatia gets a deep free kick from the left corner.   The cross fails as they win their third corner.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:30 
11:32
The third corner is deflected.  

Tommy Smyth all over Pogatetz for mugging Olic.   The defender seems very close to getting his second yellow card.   I think we missed the graphic for his yellow in the 4th.       Austria's Samuel in the 21st as well.   Mea culpa.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:32 
11:32
Corner to Austria sails high to the unmarked header, but it sails quite wide.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:32 
11:34
There is a small child randmonly running himslef into the pub's walls.   Not really harmful, just boys being boys, but we can't help but draw the comparison to Austria right now.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:34 
11:34
and the little metaphor is down.   Poor fella, he's all tuckered out.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:34 
11:36
Petric is completely unmarked as he takes a long pass for Croatia in the box.   He has Jurgen Macho dead to rights, but the Austrian's powers of badass force the ball way wide with mind bullets.   An absolute shank.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:36 
11:37
Another deep throw for Croatia who have been standing on Austria's neck for most of the match.   It's only a matter of time before the draw blood.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:37 
11:37
Our hangover revcovery is sponsored by Lucoszade.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:37 
11:39
Trailing cross provides a good chance for Austria, but they fail to capitalize.   Croatia catches them on the counter, but just misses breaking away as the Austrian defense holds fast.  
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:39 
11:39
Ivanschitz with another long shot for Austria.   They appear to be turning up the heat with 10 minutes left in the half.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:39 
11:41
Deep cross from the corner as Austria just misses another chance to equalize.   They still continue to pile it on, just nearly missing once more.     The buildip results in a corner, and Austria stay on the attack.   They look much more confident in the final minutes.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:41 
11:42
LONG ball in to Standfest who just misses the far post with the head.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:42 
11:44
Vedran Corluka of Croatia is down on the play.   he is clutching his head and being taken off for treatment.   In the downtime, Croatia's coach gives Luka Modric some tactical advice.   We can't read lips or speak their language, but it looks like he's teaching him some kind of magic trick.
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:44 
11:46
2 minutes of stoppage, and it looks like both teams are ready to go into the locker room after a physical half.  
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:46 
11:48
And we're going to try a little bit of a poll here.  
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:48 
11:49
Going into the half, its Croatia 1 - Austria 0, but what do you think?   Austria turned it on to close out the half.   Do they have what it takes to get the result?   Will they catch Croatia settling on their lead?
Sunday June 8, 2008 11:49 
11:49
Predict the final result. (1-0 Croatia at the half)
Croatia Win
 ( 100% )
Austria Win
 ( 0% )
Draw
 ( 0% )

Sunday June 8, 2008 11:49 
12:04
And we're back.   the vast majority of the small sample size has selected Croatia to run away with 3 points today
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:04 
12:05
Austria is starting the half on the attack.   Croatia also gets its first chance, a 25 yarder from Krancjar that bends just wide.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:05 
12:06
A steady stream of Polish fans have come in during the break, nothing against the second match's potential, this match right here is still up for grabs.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:06 
12:06
An Austrian shot ends up somewhere in row Z.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:06 
12:07
Srna takes a rough challenge just past midfield.   On the restart, Croatia also attempts to boot the ball out of the park.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:07 
12:09
Yellow card for the Croatian captain, Kovic, a high challenge on who appears to be Linz.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:09 
12:10
Equally roguh challenge by Modric, but he fails to earn a card.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:10 
12:11
Croatia looks content to knock the ball around a bit in the second half.   Probing the Austrian defense, hoping to catch them off guard for an insurance goal.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:11 
12:12
Another corner to Croatia and it is deflected just wide.   Austria on the counter now with support.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:12 
12:13
Croatia recovers on defense to slow down the attack.     Austria not making the necessary runs into the area, and its stifling their attack.   They seem to be very specific about who they want on attack.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:13 
12:14
55 minutes into the match and the pub is almost exclusively here for the following Germany-Poland match.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:14 
12:14
a dangerous cross by Austria, a low runner from the corner, but it fails to link up in the box.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:14 
12:15
The field must be tilted towards the left end, it has been almost all Austria in the second half, strikingly similar to Croatia's hot start.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:15 
12:16
another low cross by Austria, but again it is struck too hard to be more than a rough scare.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:16 
12:19
A very good chance by Croatia just misses as they earn a corner in the 60th.   The cross fails to get on frame and we're back to midfield.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:19 
12:19
Austrian sub:

Jurgen Samuel out
Ivica Vastic in
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:19 
12:20
Croatia subs Krancjar for Kniesivic   (sics all around)

Sunday June 8, 2008 12:20 
12:21
It really would have been nice to have my handy Hungarian phrasebook for this match.

I will not buy this tobacconist.   It is scratched.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:21 
12:22
Free kick to Croatia, sent just wide.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:22 
12:23
Another good buildup by Croatia, they have numbers in the attack but are disrupted at the very last moment.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:23 
12:25
Oh Noes.   The dreaded rain fade strikes the Globe Pub.   We're swtiching to auxillary power at Liveblog Central.   A bit less soccer as info trickles in, but we promise to make up for it with reality programming.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:25 
12:26
The pub has to be feeling a bit queasy by the thought of 100s of customers and no match.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:26 
12:28
We're back, we hope not sporadically. as Olic takes a tumble just outside the box.

Austrian sub: Gercaliu out.   Someone in.....we'll try to find out.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:28 
12:28
At this point, we're only going to learn how to spell some of these names if they score.   ESPN is pretty sparse on the name dropping save a few players.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:28 
12:29
Austria on the attack in the 70th, and here comes the rain again....
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:29 
12:30
its so quiet we can hear ourselves liveblog.   the powers of converstaion have completely left the room as people change their immediate plans and are forced to speak to friends and family.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:30 
12:30
Should Austria equalize, you may be able to hear the groans from your present location.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:30 
12:31
We're in the dark here.   Some patrons are already making Blair Witch references.   Topical.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:31 
12:32
Croatian sub: Petric off, Budan on.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:32 
12:33
The heavens have absolutely opened here in Chicago.   and its a miracle we can see 2 frames per second let alone the full video we're getting now.   Maybe we swtiched to cable.  
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:33 
12:34
The local Ribfest has now been thoroughly rained out.   Too bad, we had some beer tickets left.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:34 
12:36
Not going to lie.   Its full on Auntie Em weather out there.   I dont think I could think of a better bomb shelter though.   The Euros are on, the beers of many lands are flowing like wine, and the kitchen has a seemingly limitless supply of hot wings, quesadillas, and chips.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:36 
12:37
A series of sitters are left wanting for Austria in the 78th minute.   The final attempt is knocked from the edge of the area, just over the bar.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:37 
12:38
We have to agree with Derrek Rae.   Austria have definitely played well enough to deserve a result, and they just miss another cracker on net.   The keeper is forced to push it wide and is fortunate to keep his hands on it.......

and apparenty we dont have cable.   Even though the rain has calmed down, the problem is twice as bad.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:38 
12:38
This is getting interesting too.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:38 
12:43
The darkness continues, and we appear to be on auxillary power now.  
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:43 
12:43
maybe we do have cable....so confused.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:43 
12:44
from other internet accounts, Austria is still challenging but time is running out.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:44 
12:45
In the 84th, Austria is screaming bloody murder for a handball in the box.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:45 
12:49
And we're back for the final minutes.   Corner to Croatia   AND THE VOLUME SPIKED....regardless, another corner to Croatia and the Austrian defense holds fast.   Modric takes a chance on the rebound, but strikes it wide.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:49 
12:50
The groans continue as we sputter through stoppage time.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:50 
12:51
Austrian free kick bounces just past the near post.   Kienast just misses the equalizer.   3 minutes into stoppage, and we're nearing the final seconds.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:51 
12:52
And its a Final.   Croatia 1 - Austria 0

Hopefully, the satellite gets worked out for the Germany-Poland match.   Stay tuned to FanHouse for more Liveblogging action.
Sunday June 8, 2008 12:52 
12:53



 
 
 
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